World Water Week: 10 shocking facts about the global water crisis

The research released on Tuesday (28 August) by climate disclosure organisation CDP dissects the voluntarily-disclosed water data provided by 569 cities and 1,432 companies.

Produced in partnership with infrastructure firm AECOM and charity Bloomberg Philanthropies, the analysis notes that 63% of cities see future risks relating to water supply, many of which will be exacerbated by climate change. Almost 85% of cities in Asia and Oceania are concerned about “serious risks”, and these concerns only fall slightly in Africa (80%) and Latin America (75%).

The 10 shocking facts about the global water crisis disscussed during the world water week: 

1) $9.5bn is ‘urgently needed’ to combat water stress
2) 103 cities are facing ‘serious’ flood risks
3) 80% of wastewater flows back untreated
4) Businesses have lost $14bn in water damages
5) London could have a 520-million-litre water deficit by 2050
6) Rio de Janeiro loses 40% of its water supply annually
7) Wellington’s renewables transition has been hit hard by droughts
8) Philippines is set to suffer from saltwater intrusion
9) Karachi is braced for 'water riots' as supply moves out of the city
10) Uganda’s water treatment costs have increased four-fold